Happy Sunday, almost Monday morning! Well, hey, at least you had fun this weekend, right? What did you do? I did yoga on Saturday, and it was awesome to find out that I am nearly finished with my 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program, as I mentioned yesterday! Sunday morning, I did some yoga at home, had Scott get lost with Skylar for 3 hours, and I ran around like a freak mommy on a mission! I was in 3rd Birthday Party Decorating, Shopping, and Organizing Mode! I managed to hit CVS Pharmacy for a card and cute wrapping bag, the grocery store for some last minute eats and candy Sprinkles which are a party necessity, and Target for everything from Sesame Street books to a pink tutu. Here’s a couple sneak peak pictures and I promise lots more birthday party pics tomorrow!
I flew home, got everything wrapped, house decked out in pink streamers, cupcakes with sprinkles ready, just in time for the Birthday Girl to walk in!
And she loved every second of her party!!!
I am really glad you enjoyed my Highlights of the Week Post, where I recapped everything from Vegan Gluten Free Pancakes
to Greenery with Homemade Salad Dressing
To my Homemade high Raw Vegan Desserts:
Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
and No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
But, it’s a new week and time for a new recipe!!!
Remember when I made my Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cups?
And while you’re at it, my high Raw Vegan Chocolate Turtles are a snap, too!
Anyway, I thought it was time to re-make and tweak my high Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Recipe using Vegan, Gluten-Free White Chocolate!
Don’t like store-bought? Make your own! Use Hannah Kaminsky’s Recipe.
Hannah also happens to be the Author of This Book: My Sweet Vegan which I previously reviewed and completely adore! Stay Tuned for my spin on Vegan Fudge inspired from this book coming up soon…
Recipe & Directions for: Averie’s Vegan White Chocolate Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cups
The White Chocolate Outer Coating
1 c of white chocolate chips, chunks, or hunks (if using Baker’s Chocolate, about 10 squares)
Optional: 1/4 c dark chocolate (about 4 squares), see below
Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Filling
1/3 c Peanut Butter (could also use Almond, Sunflower Seed, or Cashew Butter)
1 Tbsp Raw Cocoa Powder (if you don’t want to chocolate-ize your Nut Butter, then omit this)
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Tbsp Agave (Or use maple syrup or yacon syrup. This is optional but you may find that after adding the cocoa powder to the PB that the PB becomes quite thick. If you’re using Almond Butter or Sunflower Seed Butter for the filling which are naturally thinner and runnier than PB you may omit the additional liquid. If you want it sweeter, add sugar or stevia.)
The Filling Recipe Yields 8 discs.
Note: This filling alone makes awesome snacks (more on this below)! The cocoa powder turns the Peanut Butter into a dough-like consistency, without sticky PB-fingers!
First, I melted the White Chocolate
In the Microwave, 45 seconds, remove & stir.
Then, 30 more seconds & Stir. Watch chocolate in the micro like a hawk, checking every 10-15 seconds so you don’t scorch it!
Pour the White Chocolate into paper muffin liners
Let it Harden for 5 Minutes in the Fridge and get busy Creating the Filling.
The Filling–See Above for Amounts
Peanut Butter, Cocoa Powder
Agave, Vanilla Extract
Stir. Tastes really divine as you now have chocolate peanut butter sweetened with a little agave and flavored lightly with vanilla.
Make disc shapes with the Filling
Mentioned Above but Bears Repeating! This filling alone makes awesome snacks! The cocoa powder turns the Peanut Butter into a dough-like consistency, without getting sticky PB-fingers!
Fetch your Muffin Liners from the Fridge & Place the Discs into the Liners
Cover with more White Chocolate
And for those of you who Can’t Decide Between White or Dark Chocolate…
….melt some Dark Chocolate (Baker’s Chocolate, Semi-Sweet, vegan chocolate chips, other chocolate chips, whatever you enjoy)
And Cover the other half with Chocolate!
Refrigerate for 10 minutes to fully harden
After Refrigeration
Then, Unwrap an All White
The Center
Unwrap a Half White/Half Dark
The Center
Posing Together
Showing their Middles
And Skylar wants In On The Act!
Then I wrapped them up. Guess who’s Getting these?
My Secret Valentine Is!!!
I signed up for Janetha’s Secret Valentine Exchange. I hope the recipient likes them! And no, you can’t sign up now; the deadline has already passed, sorry!
Recent Greenery Included Raw Brock, Sugar Snap Peas, Tomatoes, Carrots, and Brussels’s that I steamed for 1 minute in 1 inch of water in a microwave-safe bowl. I am asked this frequently, so I am just repeating it for all my awesome newer readers!
And dressed my Greenery with homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing
And Dessert…
….well, yes, a White
…And a Half-White/Half-Dark.
And The Birthday Girl (February 2 to be exact) had fun eye’ing them, too.
But she loved her birthday cupcakes. Her first cupcake ever in life was eaten today. Age 3. She’s looking at it like it’s the holy grail of sugar and honestly, I was glad to give it to her to make her day exactly what she wanted as she’s been requesting cupcakes for the last few months! My little vegetarian gobbles raw veggies better than most adults and you only live once, right! And you’re only 3 once, live it up sweetie, I love you soooo much!!!!!!!!!!! One day I hope you read this. Love, Mom! xoxoxo
Yoga Today is Kukkutasana
Full lotus first, but be sure to warm up your Hips and pay attention to your hip opening, rather than just thinking this pose is about the knees, when entering full lotus. Then, insert your arms through the holes. Then lift off. Lean Forward if you’re lifting off. Lean Forward far more than you think you need to. You need to bring your center of gravity forward or else your bootay is going to weigh you back and downward and you won’t achieve liftoff. As I’ve mentioned before, these are poses to work towards; not feel bummed if you’re not there today. And really just have fun with yoga!
Tip of the Day: My Yoga and Raw Vegan Foods Retreat!
On the Beach in San Diego
August
Be there and get your Om Shanti Shanti on while eating your weight in veggies.
Next Tip: Questions:
Which PB Cup would you Grab: A White? or a White-n-Dark Combo? Or Both?! haha!
I loved both!
I normally love my Chocolate Dark, but in the Spirit of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to do something White! And that inner Filling! Mmmm….PB, Cocoa Powder, Vanilla Extract, and Agave….what’s not to Love?
Next:
If you could receive something in the mail, up to $25 bucks, what would you like to receive? And yes, I am sorta fishing for my Secret Valentine’s present in addition to the homemade goodies I’m sending. Or would a big stash of homemade goodies from me be ok?
Next:
Valentine’s Day Plans! Have any? What are they? Anyone just trying to get a date think that you’re getting engaged, getting married? Or maybe you’re going out for dinner and hoping your date at least popped for some Godiva! We will be doing precisely nothing. Especially on a Sunday night with a 3 year old. Romance would be someone other than me unloading the dishwasher. Please all you young hot things, tell me what you have in store for the big V-Day! I need to live vicariously…haha!
This Week Stay Tuned For Birthday Party Pics, a Mega Oats Post, and other good stuff…
I finally got a powerful blender (Blendtec) & made your Raw Vegan Peanut Butter (except I used Almond butter) Vanilla Balls & WOW what a difference really blending those dates makes! I love that recipe! I made a big batch & for half I added some cocoa. Good stuff. Your blog is awesome & inspiring. I can't wait to make the dark & white chocolate pb cups!! So beautiful! Here is what I am doing this weekend: running a marathon! Didn't want to spend $$ or waste vacation time, so I'm running it from home!
Those cookies looks SO yummy!
You probably already know all about our family eating habits. I"m gonna check out those amazing grass bars. The hubs liked having those at work to snack on. Thanks for the heads-up =)
Averie! Thanks for your comment…I just had to look up HG. I've never even heard of it–it sounds unbearable. I'm so glad Skylar turned out perfect, you must have been really scared. It's crazy how pregnancy can be so different for each person. You only gained 17 pounds on your modelesque frame and then me, the size of your average 10-year-old, I gained over 40! Oh my aching back!! My plan for my daughter Talia was to have a homebirth…that SO did not work out! Two C-sections later, I have no regrets. Are you going to have another baby?
Yummmy; your cookies and bars look delish…I love eating whole foods, although I am not vegan or vegetarian…I am dairy and gluten intolerant but I love your posts and delicious recipes…have a great day…..Skylar is so adorable!!!
Everyone in my family thinks I'm super strange and they make jokes all the time about my parsley, kale, seaweed, etc. diet. It was torture growing up fighting with my mom over food, being forced to eat things that gross me out. To this day my parents and brothers love their diet coke and roast beef. I've had a little success with my husband who would never eat anything green if not for me. :) Maybe that's why I love all the vegan blogger girls, Averie! I read your blog, Heather, and FartyGirl and you remind me I'm not the crazy one!
Hey love! Im still so diggin those dark and white chocolate PB cups. Id eat those up in a heart beat! Sounds you two were busy! I so have to send my vday box out too. Its sitting on my dining room table beggin to be mailed!
As far as eating its funny, cause its easiest when I go home! My mom is a strict vegan and I was raised that way. So I feel the most comfortable when Im visiting my parents cause my mom always makes tons of food I will eat. My husband on the other hand…not so much. Hes a junkatarian. haha! Thats what I call him. If it comes from a box he'll eat it. Otherwise forget about it. We've been together about 3 years and I haven't seen him eat one veggie or fruit! lol. Scary right? But I do believe to each his own. I try to help him along a bit but I don't push it. Im just hoping he'll be tempted to eat some better for you foods soon.
Id like to get back to being vegan soon. I still eat seafood, greek yogurt and egg whites. I think thats about it. But most of my meals are mainly just loads of veggies. For me its just more a health issue. The more plant based foods I eat the "cleaner" my body feels.
Super bowl plans? hhmm not yet. I think im working this weekend. Total bummer, right? But my hubs might head out to a friends house. If Im off I'll tag along. Otherwise I'll be watching the Superbowl streaming on my computer. I was planning though on making tons of different salsas, guac, home made tortillas that kind of thing. So we shall see!
By the way your comments on my blog always make me smile. Thank you so much!!
Have a fantastic day love!
OMG now THAT IS NASTY! re: gym people. OMG. OMG. we have guys there that have the shortest shorts on….and it's like WHOA THERE when they bend over. =D GLAD YOU LIKED THE POST!
Such a sweet idea to send a secret Valentine =) Some of my friends and family often forget that I don't eat gluten, because I went so long with eating a normal diet. Then I have friends who will yell at me if I go to "cheat" a little. I don't normally bring it up around people (unless they are making me food) as they usually fall into one of the two extremes. That's why I love blogging, because you can find people who live and understand your lifestyle =)I'm definitely going to try your vegan protein bars…mine came out terribly last night!
eeek! butterscotch oats! i've been so mia and missed this oats post! gotta go back and check it out :)
my family has definitely started to eat better because of me but they don't necessarily eat all of the things i eat. which of course i don't mind because more for meee haha
<3 you girl! that secret bloggie is gonna be one lucky lady!
unfortunately, my family thinks i must have a disordered view of eating because i avoid grains or processed foods. i avoid all dairy except for goat cheese and greek yogurt. my diet is mainly meat, veggies, nuts/seeds & a little fruit which blows their minds and i get stares and glares when i don't eat pasta, cookies, sandwiches etc. it kinda sucks i won't lie but i'm not going to cave in and go into a carb stupor or be in GI distress to please other people!
I love Skyler Pics… She seems like a very happy girl… always a big beautiful smile :) Hope my kiddos are as happy and smily when I have then and when they are her aga.. lol
Raymond and I eat completely differently. Sometime we cook together he cooks his dinner and I cook mine or I cook them both.. and there are times that he cooks vegetarian for both of us so we can eat together :).
We are going to our next door neighbors for Superbowl. My healthy offerings is good quality beer… dark and belgium… its super food lol
At first, I was the only vegetarian in the family, then my husband became one, and my sis for awhile. That was cool, because the family was forced to make food we could all eat. Now, my husband is a vegetarian, I am vegan, and my sister is a quitter. I don't know why she became vegetarian in the first place – to be trendy? But now she scarfs down meat like there is no tomorrow. It is strange to me.
oh. my. gosh.
those butterfinger oats look so good!! total drool worthy :) you know how to make the most delicious food!!
Whoever your secret Valentine is is one lucky blogger!
My family does not eat like I do. I'd say my mom is the closest since she eats very health-consciously and doesn't eat meat. But as far as I know, I'm the only vegetarian.
You know, for the longest time, no one in my family ate like me. But in the past year, my brother became a vegetarian, my mom became a vegetarian who tries to eat as much vegan as she can, and my best friend became a vegetarian. Whew. Oh yeah, and my husband went vegan too.
It makes things convenient, but it also kind of kicks me in the face even more when I meet someone who is dumbfounded by my diet choices.
Mmmmm I think I might have all the ingredients necessary for the raw oatmeal cookies…
I am a vegetarian, my boyfriend is too (turned vegetarian when I explained to him why I was changing my diet to vegetarian), we have a couple of friends who are vegetarians too, as well as co-workers at my office.
My parents are definitely not, but they totally respect my choice, and won't force me to eat meat or fish when I stay at their place. I told my mum not to buy and cook anything special for me when I come, but sometimes she just doesn't listen to me and will end up buying veggie burgers or cook some vegetarian dish, so in a way when I am at home they have a healthier diet (or that's me trying to believe this, oh well…)
What some of my co-workers don't understand is what I include in my diet, as I have the feeling that we in Europe are less educated or informed on healthy fats, and how you can find your protein in vegetable. My vegetarian coworkers will tend to rely on dairy, but personally I strive on hummus :-)
They see me eat (a lot of) nuts, hummus, these kind of things, and all they tell me is "oooooh but there's plenty of fat in those things", that's all they see…
Anyway, I don't care what people think, I know what is best for me and how to fuel my body properly, to each his own :-)
Oh dear I'm writing a novel here, I'd better get some work done!